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American presidents are chauffeured pretty much everywhere so it was "spontaneous and special" for GM when US president Barack Obama stepped into a black Chevrolet Volt on Friday and took the shortest of test drives.
All of 12 metres, in fact.
“Pretty smooth,” the president said as he stepped out of the Volt to resume his tour of the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
The impromptu drive occurred after consultation between his Secret Service crew and news media secretary Robert Gibbs, who said he hoped the Volt had a crash bag. It had. Eight.
Gibbs confirmed it was a highly unusual, though not unprecedented, opportunity for Obama. The prez hadn't driven a car for three or four months and even that was at a Secret Service training facility.
During his chat at the plant Obama referred to his other car, a special Cadillac armoured limousine.
“Now, I have to tell you some of you saw me drive a Volt about 30cm. They don't let me drive much these days,” Obama said, "but the Cadillac that I ride in was made right here. I gotta admit the Secret Service soups it up a little bit.”
General Motors announced during the visit that build capacity of the extended range battery car was to be increased by half from 30 000 to 45 000 units during 2012.
All of 12 metres, in fact.
“Pretty smooth,” the president said as he stepped out of the Volt to resume his tour of the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
The impromptu drive occurred after consultation between his Secret Service crew and news media secretary Robert Gibbs, who said he hoped the Volt had a crash bag. It had. Eight.
Gibbs confirmed it was a highly unusual, though not unprecedented, opportunity for Obama. The prez hadn't driven a car for three or four months and even that was at a Secret Service training facility.
During his chat at the plant Obama referred to his other car, a special Cadillac armoured limousine.
“Now, I have to tell you some of you saw me drive a Volt about 30cm. They don't let me drive much these days,” Obama said, "but the Cadillac that I ride in was made right here. I gotta admit the Secret Service soups it up a little bit.”
General Motors announced during the visit that build capacity of the extended range battery car was to be increased by half from 30 000 to 45 000 units during 2012.